Peer Review Process

"Peer Review"

 

Peer review is the process by which all submitted manuscripts at journal's office are evaluated by one or more people with similar competences and experiences. It is a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. By peer reviewing quality standards, improved performance, and credibility are maintained.

How the peer review process works

When a scholarly work is submitted to Journal of Iranian Medical Council (JIMC), it first undergoes a preliminary check known as a desk review. After the desk review, the manuscript is sent to Associate Editors (AE), who decide if the manuscript should be sent for peer review or be immediately rejected. Submissions with serious failings that are rejected immediately, can be re-submitted once they have been thoroughly revised.

Also the Associate Editor determines whether the scholarly work falls within the JIMCs scope, the research topic has been clearly formulated, and if a suitable approach has been taken to address the scientific issues involved.  The next step is to select expert peer reviewers from the same field who are qualified and able to review the work. Ideally the work is evaluated by 2-3 expert peer reviewers.

Peer reviewer examines the novelty and originality of the research findings, methodology to determine whether the author's results can be reproduced.

If a work involves patients or animals, then the peer review will also cover ethical aspects. Finally, the reviewer will also rate the 'readability' of the work, assessing how logically the argument has been constructed and whether the conclusions are well-founded. Peer reviewers normally provide their assessment in the form of a questionnaire which they return to the JIMC editorial office. This forms the basis for deciding whether the work should be accepted, considered for revisions, or rejected. Finally in case a revision is requested the author of the manuscript will receive useful advice on how to improve their work based on the comments of the reviewers and Associate editor.

JIMC offers a double-blind review system where neither the authors' nor the reviewers' identities are disclosed to the other. However in certain cases as determined by the Editor-in-Chief, the name of the author can be made known to the reviewers (Single-blind review).